13 Ways to Create a Friendlier Front Yard

With beautiful weather comes more outside time. But don't hide away in your backyard. Your front yard, porch, stoop, lawn — whatever you have — is a place where the right accessories and architecture can spell "friendly" and "welcoming" to passersby. Being out front is a great way to connect with your neighbors while still enjoying the outdoors. These are our best tips for making the front of your house as hospitable as possible.

Founded in St. Paul, Minnesota, the Friendly Fronts Toolkit has one key recommendation to make your front yard friendlier immediately. "If you can do only one thing, get a few chairs, put them outside, sit down and be present in your yard and in your community. Then you are ready to start talking to people as they walk by."

Widening your front path and entrance is a psychological reinforcement of "welcome" and has been shown to create a more inviting entry.

Gardenia, jasmine, tea olive, roses and other fragrant plants near sidewalks and pathways are inviting and appealing to passersby. We dare neighbors not to ask about "that delicious scent."

Founded in Wisconsin by Todd Bol and Rick Brooks, the Little Free Library has become an international phenomenon. Little Free Library book houses, many of which are wonderful folk art creations, are springing up around the world in this movement which builds a sense of community and promotes literacy by creating these free book exchanges where readers can donate or take books as desired. In the wake of Little Free Library have come offshoots that also celebrate neighborliness and kindness like the Little Free Pantry and Little Free Garden movements.

Nothing creates good relationships like sharing your harvest. I know from personal experience that the peach tree planted in my Atlanta front yard has been a big conversation starter with passing neighbors. And sharing the fruit is the ultimate gesture of good will.

Planted with edible plants or a mix of edibles and ornamentals, raised beds front and center are a conversation starter and great inspiration for neighbors who want to start their own raised bed garden.

Who wouldn't want to linger in front of a home where graceful trees provide shade to cool your walk or visit?

Nothing invites lingering like beautiful plantings that welcome neighbors to enjoy your plants and flowers and provide beautification for the street where you live.

Nothing beckons visitors quite like a front porch outfitted with various conversation areas and chairs and tables for drinks. If you have a low fence, consider setting it slightly back from the sidewalk, with plantings between the fence and the sidewalk to soften the lines and provide a friendlier interface.

Pathway and sidewalk lighting provide a safe approach and passage for visitors and neighbors of every age.

This bright blue door says "creative, friendly people live here." Consider the impact of a fresh, fun front door paint color to give a design "howdy" to passersby.

Kids will get endless enjoyment out of an at-home tree swing and it's a great way to encourage little ones to spend more time outside. Make sure yours is low to the ground, has a soft landing of grass or mulch underneath and is very, very well secured.